Stephen Egerton (guitarist)

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Stephen Egerton
Descendents 2014-09-28 03.jpg
Egerton performing with the Descendents in 2014
Background information
Birth nameStephen Patrick O'Reilly
Born (1964-09-02) September 2, 1964 (age 57)
Origin Utah, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1980–present
Labels
Associated acts
Website stephenegerton.com

Stephen Patrick O'Reilly (born September 2, 1964), known professionally as Stephen Egerton, is an American guitarist, producer, mixer, and engineer, who is best known for his work playing in Descendents [1] and All. [2]

Contents

Biography

Early life

Egerton was raised in Utah, United States (U.S.) and explained his early relationship to music in a 2009 interview: "I was a music fanatic from the beginning of my life. Including pounding my head on the floor along with my parent's records ... which explains a lot." [3] Egerton's first significant musical influence was the Beatles, but he also grew up listening to his parents' music collection:

A lot of 50's and 60's rock and roll as a kid, and a little jazz. My mother had good taste in music, and I grew up with a great variety. When I was 11, a neighbor lent me Frank Zappa's Absolutely Free which sparked my interest in "unusual" music ... opening the door for punk rock. [3]

Music career

Egerton played drums and guitar in the punk rock/death rock band Massacre Guys. Formed in Salt Lake City, Egerton played with the Massacre Guys from 1980 to 1985 alongside bassist Karl Alvarez, with whom he grew up. Egerton explained in 2012 that he taught Alvarez how to play the bass guitar during their time in the band. [4]

In 1985 Egerton relocated to Virginia, U.S., where he studied classical guitar and played in the band Auto Da Fe, with former Iron Cross vocalist Sab Grey, Washington metropolitan area drummer Eric Wallgren, and former Black Market Baby bass player Paul Cleary. In late 1986, Egerton joined Alvarez in Descendents.

In 2006 Egerton began recording for a new project named "40Engine," alongside former All vocalist Scott Reynolds. The band released the songs "Sunny Disposition" and "She Has Everything" on the Internet in late 2007/early 2008. [5]

As part of a collaboration with guitarist Jason Crowley, called "Crowley/Egerton," Egerton played drums and bass for songs that were made available online in 2007. [6]

Egerton formed an instrumental project called "Slorder," and the band released its debut EP in January 2009. [7]

In 2010, Egerton released The Seven Degrees of Stephen Egerton on the Paper + Plastick label. The album features Egerton playing with a variety of vocalists, including Milo Aukerman, Joey Cape, and Mike Herrera. Two album release shows occurred in Oklahoma, U.S., during May 2010, and Slorder also performed at both shows. [8]

Egerton explained in a July 2012 interview that Descendents had transformed into a lesser responsibility for the band members, as singer Aukerman was unable to commit to a full-time band schedule at the time; furthermore, three of the four members were parents. Egerton stated that he was satisfied with the new arrangement, whereby the band played around 20 shows on an annual basis: "We fly in; we rock out, have fun, don’t burn it out, go home and back to normal. I love it." [4]

During the surprise guest appearance of Black Flag at the 30th-anniversary Goldenvoice show—held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California, U.S. in December 2011—at which Descendents was the headline act, Keith Morris and Chuck Dukowski joined Bill Stevenson and Egerton to play Black Flag's first e.p., Nervous Breakdown. In January 2013, the formation of the same lineup that played Nervous Breakdown as the band FLAG was announced, with Black Flag's third singer and one-time rhythm-guitar player Dez Cadena joining the band afterward. Prior to a September 2013 FLAG performance at Irving Plaza in New York City, U.S., Dukowski said regarding the band's formation: "I knew Bill [Stevenson] and Stephen [Egerton] would rage." Although the backgrounds of the band's membership are diverse, FLAG solely perform "the songs of Black Flag." [9] [10]

Egerton recorded a guitar solo for Role Model, the 2013 album of Australian band Bodyjar. [11]

Production career

In July 2012, Egerton explained that he was continuing to run the Armstrong Studios recording facility—based at his house in Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.—where he engineers, produces and mixes music:

I’m very fortunate in that my main day job is mixing and mastering records. I do most of my work in my spare bedroom; I have a studio at home and sometimes I record bands there but mostly I do mixing and mastering so it works out convenient for me. I’m there all the time ... [4]

In September 2009, Egerton revealed that he enjoyed recording more than touring, as he liked the idea of music being "permanent," and stated that, by that stage, he had been involved in the recording of "Probably 30 or so bands, and more than 50 projects over the last bunch of years." [3] In a 2010 interview, Russ Rankin of the American punk band Good Riddance, identified Egerton—during his time at the Blasting Room studio alongside Descendents drummer Stevenson—as a producer who "really understood what Good Riddance was about":

Also, the way they [Egerton and Stevenson] recorded … it was completely out of the ordinary … we'd been through the culture where you'd lay down the drums first, then you lay down the bass, then you lay down the guitars, and then you do the vocals … and we get to the Blasting Room and once the drums were done it was like, all bets are off … it was definitely a new approach for us anyway, we'd never done anything like that before…so I think that those guys really brought out the best in us, they challenged us, but they also, I think, had a really innate sense of knowing what we were trying to get done. [12]

Egerton and Stevenson also mixed Bodyjar's Jarchives: 10 Years of Bodyjar compilation album. [13]

Personal life

Egerton and his wife reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with their children, Sophie and Felix O'Reilly. Egerton explained in 2012 that he chose Tulsa so that his children could be near to his wife's parents, and in 2009 he also mentioned the "inexpensive" cost of living in the city. Egerton provided a brief insight into his daily schedule in 2012:

I’m the guy that takes [the kids] to the bus, my wife's job is set hours, I have complete flexibility in my schedule. I live a mile from school, if I need to take care of something I do. I really like it because my mother had to work and my Dad was gone, so to be there for them [the kids] feels good. [4]

Egerton's wife is originally from Perth, Australia. [13]

Related Research Articles

Black Flag (band) American hardcore punk band

Black Flag is an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. Initially called Panic, the band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter, and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band. They are widely considered to be one of the first hardcore punk bands, as well as one of the pioneers of post-hardcore. After breaking up in 1986, Black Flag reunited in 2003 and again in 2013. The second reunion lasted well over a year, during which they released their first studio album in over two decades, What The... (2013). The band announced their third reunion in January 2019. Brandon Pertzborn was replaced by Isaias Gil on drums and Tyler Smith was replaced by Joseph Noval on bass.

Keith Morris American singer

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Chuck Dukowski American musician

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Bill Stevenson (musician) American musician

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<i>My War</i> 1984 studio album by Black Flag

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Slip It In is the fourth studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag, released in 1984 on SST Records.

Descendents Punk rock band

The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a singer, and reappeared as a punk rock band, becoming a major player in the hardcore punk scene developing in Los Angeles at the time. They have released eight studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums, and four EPs. Since 1986, the band's lineup has consisted of singer Milo Aukerman, guitarist Stephen Egerton, bassist Karl Alvarez, and drummer Bill Stevenson.

All is an American punk rock band originally from Los Angeles, currently based in Fort Collins, Colorado. The group was formed by three members of Descendents.

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<i>All</i> (Descendents album) 1987 studio album by the Descendents

All is the fourth album by the American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1987 through SST Records. It was the band's first album with bassist Karl Alvarez and guitarist Stephen Egerton, who brought new songwriting ideas to the group. The album is titled after the concept of "All" invented by drummer Bill Stevenson and friend Pat McCuistion in 1980. Based on the goals of achieving "the total extent" and "to not settle for some, to always go for All", the philosophy was the subject of the one-second title track, the two-second "No, All!", and "All-O-Gistics".

<i>Everything Sucks</i> (Descendents album) 1996 studio album by the Descendents

Everything Sucks is the fifth studio album by American punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1996 through Epitaph Records. It was their first album of new studio material since 1987's All, after which singer Milo Aukerman had left the band to pursue a career in biochemistry. The remaining members had changed the band's name to All and released eight albums between 1988 and 1995 with singers Dave Smalley, Scott Reynolds, and Chad Price. When Aukerman decided to return to music the group chose to operate as two acts simultaneously, playing with Aukerman as the Descendents and with Price as All.

<i>Cool to Be You</i> 2004 studio album by the Descendents

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Tony Lombardo is an American musician who was the original bassist in the punk rock band the Descendents. He joined the band in 1979 and played on their debut single, the Fat EP (1981), and the albums Milo Goes to College (1982) and I Don't Want to Grow Up (1985). After leaving the band, he performed in other acts and worked for the United States Postal Service until 2005. He collaborated with the Descendents' successor band, All, writing two songs for their album Allroy's Revenge (1989) and teaming up with them for an album of his own songs, New Girl, Old Story (1991), credited to "TonyAll". He also collaborated with the reunited Descendents on their 1996 album Everything Sucks.

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<i>Take a Look Inside</i> (Bodyjar album) 1994 studio album by Bodyjar

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<i>Allroy Sez</i> 1988 studio album by All

Allroy Sez is the debut album by the American punk rock band All, released in March 1988 through Cruz Records. Following the departure of singer Milo Aukerman from the Descendents, the remaining members—bassist Karl Alvarez, guitarist Stephen Egerton, and drummer Bill Stevenson—recruited singer Dave Smalley and changed the name of the band to All, which was both the title of the Descendents' 1987 album and a philosophical concept invented by Stevenson and friend Pat McCuistion in 1980. Allroy Sez introduced the character of Allroy, who would serve as a mascot for the band and be featured on many of their subsequent album covers.

<i>Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit</i> 2001 studio album by Good Riddance

Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit is the fifth album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released July 10, 2001 through Fat Wreck Chords. It was their only release ever to chart, reaching #32 on Billboard's Independent Albums chart. It marked the debut of drummer Dave Wagenschutz with the band; their longtime drummer Sean Sellers had left in early 1999, and Lagwagon drummer Dave Raun had filled in on the 2000 EP The Phenomenon of Craving and on several tours until Wagenschutz, formerly of Kid Dynamite, joined Good Riddance full-time.

<i>My Republic</i> 2006 studio album by Good Riddance

My Republic is the seventh studio album by the Santa Cruz, California-based hardcore punk band Good Riddance, released June 27, 2006 through Fat Wreck Chords. It marked the band's return from an almost three-year period of inactivity, during which singer and primary songwriter Russ Rankin had been active in his new band Only Crime while guitarist Luke Pabich had started a side project called Outlie. It also marked the return of drummer Sean Sellers to Good Riddance, replacing Dave Wagenschutz who had played on the band's two previous albums Symptoms of a Leveling Spirit (2001) and Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection (2003). Sellers had previously been a member of Good Riddance from 1996 to 1999, playing on A Comprehensive Guide to Moderne Rebellion (1996), Ballads from the Revolution (1998), and Operation Phoenix (1999), and had played with Pabich in Outlie during Good Riddance's hiatus.

<i>Filmage</i> 2013 American film

Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All is a 2013 independent documentary film chronicling the history of the American punk rock bands the Descendents and All. It was written by Matt Riggle, who produced and directed it with Deedle LaCour. The film uses an oral history format, telling the bands' stories through the use of interviews with over 40 subjects, as well as new and archival footage. It stars drummer Bill Stevenson, singer Milo Aukerman, bassist Karl Alvarez, and guitarist Stephen Egerton, and features nearly all past and present members of both bands. Filmage also features numerous musicians who were contemporaries of, worked with, or were influenced by the Descendents and All.

References

  1. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: Descendents". AMG . Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  2. ↑ Prato, Greg. "Biography: All". AMG . Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Steve Long (September 20, 2009). "Stephen Egerton Interview". Otter Limits. Google, Inc. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Danny R. Phillips (July 27, 2012). "Not another punk asshole". Blurt. Blurt. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "40Engine (Stephen Egerton and Scott Reynolds of ALL) post new music". Punknews.org. Punknews.org. January 2, 2008. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Stephen Egerton (Descendents/ALL) and Jason Crowley collaborating". Punknews.org. Punknews.org. December 8, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  7. ↑ brettall (January 22, 2009). "Stephen Egerton (ALL, Descendents) unveils new band: Slorder". Punknews.org. Punknews.org. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ Ryan (May 11, 2010). "STEPHEN EGERTON RELEASES NEW ALBUM TODAY". Oklahoma Rock. OklahomaRock.com. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ Brad Cohan (September 18, 2013). "FLAG'S Chuck Dukowski Pretty Much Confirms Greg Ginn Is a Total Douchebag". New York Village Voice. Village Voice, LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ Erick Lyle (May 2, 2013). "THE LONG VICE INTERVIEW WITH FLAG". Vice. Vice Media Inc. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ Bomber (October 13, 2013). "On The Record – Bodyjar". Bombshellzine.com. Bombshellzine.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  12. ↑ Rolosean (June 17, 2010). "Interviews: Russ Rankin (Good Riddance, Only Crime)". Punknews.org. Punknews.org. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  13. 1 2 Christopher Harris (January 10, 2013). "INTERVIEW: THE DESCENDENTS – STEPHEN EGERTON". Spaceship News. Perth Music. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
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